Ganoderma Lucidum: A Comprehensive Review on its Phytochemistry and Therapeutic Potential

Ganoderma lucidum, commonly known as Reishi or Lingzhi, is a medicinal mushroom highly valued across Asian traditional medicine systems for its wide-ranging therapeutic properties. This review provides a comprehensive overview of its phytochemistry, pharmacological actions, and potential applications. G. lucidum contains diverse bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides, triterpenoids, amino acids, peptides, alkaloids, sterols and other. Additional constituents support antidiabetic, neuroprotective, antiviral and antimicrobial benefits. The mushroom grows naturally on decaying hardwood in temperate regions but is now widely cultivated due to increasing global demand. Numerous pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic products derived from fruiting bodies, spores, and mycelia are commercially available. Overall, G. lucidum represents a potent medicinal macrofungus with significant therapeutic potential, supporting its traditional uses and encouraging further research into its clinical efficacy and safety.